Chetumal, Q.R. — More than 30 young women have been removed from a forced prostitution situation in Chetumal. Police carried out the operation Friday evening that lead to the rescue of 36 women.
The operation was carried out by the Quintana Roo State Attorney General (FGE) and National Guard where one male was arrested. FGE head Raciel López Salazar said a search warrant was executed at the bar late Friday afternoon.
Inside, 36 women were located as “possible victims of the crime of human trafficking in its form of prostitution.” During the raid, police took one adult male into custody “allegedly related to these events.”
The raid was the result of intelligence and investigative work due to citizen reports of illicit activities at a property on Camelias Street and Juárez Avenue of Chetumal.
“During the execution of the procedure in the bar, the participating elements protected 36 adult women of which 35 are Mexican and one of Honduran nationality,” he added.
According to initial investigations, the victims were recruited in situations of economic vulnerability initially to work as waitresses and hostesses. However, Salazar said that later, they were made to provide sexual services.
Half of the money they made from those serives were to be handed over to management.
During the raid, Rolando Agustín “N”, identified as the person in charge of the establishment, was arrested. He is facing charges “constituting the crime of human trafficking in its form of prostitution of others,” police said.
During the operation, physical evidence was also collected including electronic payment terminals, video recording devices (DVRs), cash, condoms and notebooks with records of services.
The property was secured and the corresponding official seizure seals were placed, closing the bar.
